Method and apparatus for encoding video content

ABSTRACT

A system identifies video data to be encoded as well as multiple display regions associated with a particular video display type. Each of the multiple display regions is associated with a different portion of an image associated with the video data. The video data is encoded such that the encoded video data includes information regarding the multiple display regions. Each of the multiple display regions has an associated display region identifier. Additionally, the system may identify an active region of the video data. The active region may be located anywhere within an image associated with the video data. The video data is encoded such that the encoded video data includes information regarding the active region.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.09/982,127, filed Oct. 18, 2001, entitled “Method and Apparatus forEncoding Video Content”, and incorporated herein by reference. Thatapplication claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/241,296 filed Oct. 18, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to video encoding systems and, moreparticularly, to an encoding system and method that provides multipledisplay regions for a particular display type. The present inventionfurther provides a flexible mechanism for specifying the portions of animage to display.

BACKGROUND

Video content may be encoded using various encoding techniques. Todaythere are many different types of display devices that may eventuallydisplay encoded video content. These different display devices includetelevisions having different aspect ratios (e.g., a 16:9 aspect ratio ora 4:3 aspect ratio) or different screen resolutions (e.g., 480 verticallines of resolution or 1080 vertical lines of resolution), computermonitors having different aspect ratios and/or picture resolutions, andportable video players with various aspect ratios and different screenresolutions. The use of the display may also include using only asub-regions of such display devices rather than filling the entiredisplay with a single video content stream (e.g., “picture-in-picture”or display in a “window” on a computer screen). At the time the videocontent is encoded, it may not be known which display types mayeventually display the video content, and the same encoded content maybe used in a wide variety of display environments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional system 100 for processing anddistributing video content. The video content is captured using a videocamera 102 (or any other video capture device) that transfers thecaptured video content onto video tape or another storage medium. Later,the captured video content may be edited using a video editor 104. Avideo encoder 106 encodes the video content to reduce the storage spacerequired for the video content and/or to reduce the transmission bitrate required to transmit the video content. Various encoding techniquesmay be used to compress the video content, such as the MPEG-2 (MovingPicture Experts Group 2nd generation) compression format.

The encoded video content is provided to a transmitter 108, whichtransmits the encoded video content to one or more receivers 110 acrossa communication link 112. Communication link 112 may be, for example, aphysical cable, a satellite link, a terrestrial broadcast, an Internetconnection, a physical medium (such as a digital versatile disc (DVD))or a combination thereof. A video decoder 114 decodes the signalreceived by receiver 110 using the appropriate decoding technique. Thedecoded video content is then displayed on a video display 116, such asa television or a computer monitor. Receiver 110 may be a separatecomponent (such as a set top box) or may be integrated into videodisplay 116.

Similarly, video decoder 114 may be a separate component or may beintegrated into the receiver 110 or the video display 116.

Video content may be captured and encoded into a format having aparticular aspect ratio (such as 16:9) and later displayed on a videodisplay having a different aspect ratio (such as 4:3). Various methodsare available for displaying an image on a video display having adifferent aspect ratio. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate two possible methodsfor displaying an image having a 4:3 aspect ratio on a video displayhaving a 16:9 aspect ratio. In FIG. 2A, a 16:9 video display 200 is notcompletely filled by the 4:3 image (located between the broken lines).Thus, blank side bars 202 are located on opposite sides of video display200.

Another alternative for displaying a 4:3 image on a 16:9 video displayis shown in FIG. 2B. In this situation, the width of the 4:3 image isexpanded horizontally to align with the sides of the 16:9 video display200. However, this expansion causes the top and bottom portions of theimage to extend past the physical limits of video display 200. Thus, topand bottom portions 210 of the image are not displayed on video display200.

FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate methods for displaying an image having a 16:9aspect ratio on a video display having a 4:3 aspect ratio. In FIG. 2C, avideo display 250 has a 4:3 aspect ratio. The 16:9 image 252 ispositioned between the two broken lines. Since the aspect ratio of theimage is different from the aspect ratio of video display 250, two blankbars 254 are created across the top and bottom of the video display. Thedisplay format shown in FIG. 2C is commonly referred to as“letterboxing.”

In FIG. 2D, the height of the 16:9 image is expanded vertically to alignwith the top and bottom edges of the 4:3 video display 250. However,this expansion causes the sides of the image to extend past the physicallimits of video display 250. Thus, side portions 260 of the image arenot displayed on video display 250. The display format shown in FIG. 2Dis commonly referred to as “overscanning” or “pan and scan.”

In existing video encoding systems, the encoded video content includesan indication of how to display the encoded video image on differenttypes of displays. For example, if a video image has a 16:9 aspectratio, the encoded video image includes information regarding how todisplay the video image on a video display having a 4:3 aspect ratio ora 2.3:1 aspect ratio. However, the information for each different typeof video display (e.g., different aspect ratios) has a single option fordisplaying the image on that type of video display. Existing systems donot support multiple different image display regions that are specifiedin the video content stream and associated with a particular type ofvideo display. For example, these different image display regions mayfocus on different characters appearing in the video content. Althoughexisting systems allow a user to select among different pre-defineddisplay formats (such as letterboxing or overscanning), these systems donot support multiple different encoder-specified image display regions,as described herein. Typically, if multiple display regions arespecified, they are pre-defined display formats that are defined in thedecoder rather than being transmitted with the video content stream.

Additionally, if a portion of an image is to be deleted after decoding(for example, because the output of the decoder is not a multiple of thefundamental “macroblock” dimensions used to represent the video in acompressed domain), existing video encoding systems typically deletecontent along the right edge of the image and/or along the bottom edgeof the image. These systems may not provide the ability to specify whichportion of the image to discard if a portion of the image needs to bedeleted. Instead, these systems can only delete the portion of the imagealong the right edge or the bottom edge. Existing systems do not providesupport for multiple different image framings for a given display typecombined with the ability to delete specific portions of the image.

The systems and methods described herein address the above limitationsby providing a system that encodes video content such that a user of avideo display can select among multiple image framings for displayingthe encoded image on the video display. Moreover, the video encodingsystems and methods described herein are capable of specifying theparticular portion of an image to be deleted if a portion of the imageneeds to be discarded.

SUMMARY

The systems and methods described herein allow video content to define(e.g., within the video content stream) several different displayregions for each type of video display device, thereby allowing the userof the video display device to determine, based on the user'spreferences, the manner in which the video content is displayed. Thus,the user of the video display device is not limited to a single displayregion for a given display aspect ratio or to pre-defined displayformats (such as letterboxing or overscanning). Additionally, thesystems and methods described herein allow for the identification of anactive region, which defines the portion of the image that hasmeaningful information. This active region may be located anywherewithin the image, thereby providing flexibility in determining whichportions of the image to discard and which portions of the image todisplay, based on framing the identified active region area in relationto the chosen defined display region.

In one embodiment, video data to be encoded is identified. Additionally,multiple display regions associated with each particular video displaytype are identified. Each of the multiple display regions is associatedwith a different portion of an image associated with the video data. Thevideo data is encoded such that the encoded video data includesinformation regarding the multiple display regions.

In another embodiment, the encoded video data is stored using a storagedevice.

In a described embodiment, the encoded video data is transmitted tomultiple destinations.

In a particular implementation, each display region has an associateddisplay region identifier.

Another embodiment identifies the area of the video content containingvalid material that may be suitable for display. An active region of thevideo data to be encoded is identified. The active region may be locatedanywhere within an image associated with the video data. Multipledisplay regions associated with the video data are also identified. Thevideo data is encoded such that the encoded video data includes anindication of the active region and includes information sufficient tospecify the intersection of the multiple display regions with thatactive region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional system for processing and distributingvideo content.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate two possible methods for displaying an imagehaving a 4:3 aspect ratio on a video display having a 16:9 aspect ratio.

FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate methods for displaying an image having a 16:9aspect ratio on a video display having a 4:3 aspect ratio.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example video encoding system and an example videodecoding system.

FIG. 4 illustrates an original video image having a 16:9 aspect ratioand multiple options for displaying the original video image on a videodisplay having a 4:3 aspect ratio.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure for encoding videocontent with information regarding multiple display regions.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure for decoding videocontent that includes multiple display regions.

FIG. 7 illustrates an original video image having a display region andan active region.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure for displaying encodedvideo content having both a display region and an active region.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a suitable operating environment inwhich the systems and methods described herein may be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The systems and methods described herein allow video data to definemultiple display regions for each type of video display device on whichthe video data may be displayed. This permits each user to select amongthe various display regions based on that user's viewing preferences.For example, one user may choose to view all of the video data, whichmay create blank bands along the top and bottom edges of the videodisplay device. Another user may choose to have the display device'sscreen filled with the video data, which may cause some portions of theleft and right edges of the video image to be cropped to fill thedisplay device. Another user may choose to have the displayed videoimage focus on a particular actor or actress in the program or moviebeing displayed. Thus, portions of the image may be reduced and/orcropped depending on the particular display region selected by the user,and the encoded representation of the video data includes identificationof the display regions that can be selected for display (for example,identification of which region focuses on a particular actor).

The systems and methods described herein also allow an active region tobe identified. The active region defines the portion of the image thathas meaningful information. The active region typically excludesportions of the image that contain artifacts or other undesirable data.The active region may be located anywhere within the image, thusproviding flexibility in defining which portions of the image should bediscarded and which portions of the image should be displayed. Incombination with the identification of a display region, the area to beshown on the display would consist of the intersection of the activeregion with the chosen display region.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example video encoding system and an example videodecoding system. A video content source 302 provides video content to avideo encoder 304. Video content source may be, for example, a videocamera or other capture device, or a storage device that storespreviously captured video content. Video encoder 304 includes a displayregion locator 306 and an active region locator 308. Display regionlocator 306 defines one or more display regions associated withparticular video content. As discussed above, a particular displayregion may attempt to capture the entire image as intended by theproducer of the image. Another display region may focus on the importantaction in each image while other display regions can focus on specificcharacters or other areas of interest in the image. The location of thedisplay region within the image may change from one frame of the videoimage to the next (e.g., as the action or as a specific character movesin the image). The location of each display region may be defined byindicating particular points within the image that define the fourcorners of each display region, for example by specifying the locationof the top left corner and the bottom right corner of the displayregion. This location data (as well as an identifier associated witheach display region) may be encoded within the video signal or may betransmitted along with the video signal.

Active region locator 308 identifies an active region associated withparticular video content. Video encoder 304 also includes a videoencoding engine 310, which encodes video content and other data (such asdisplay region information and active region information). The output ofvideo encoder 304 is communicated to a transmitter 312, which transmitsthe encoded video signal to one or more receivers. Alternatively,transmitter 312 may be a storage device that stores the encoded videosignal (e.g., on a DVD or other memory device).

Receiver 320 receives an encoded video signal and communicates thereceived signal to a video decoder 322. Alternatively, receiver 320 maybe a device (such as a DVD player) capable of reading stored encodedvideo content (e.g., stored on a DVD). Video decoder 322 includes adisplay region locator 324 and an active region locator 326. Displayregion locator 324 identifies one or more display regions encoded in thevideo signal (or transmitted along with the video signal). Active regionlocator 326 identifies an active region encoded in the video signal.Video decoder 322 also includes a video decoding engine 328 whichdecodes the encoded video signal, including the various display regionsassociated with the video signal. After decoding the video signal, videodecoder 322 communicates the decoded video content to a video display330 which renders the image defined by the decoded video content. Videodecoder 322 may be a separate device or may be incorporated into anotherdevice, such as a television or a DVD player.

As mentioned above, a video image may be captured using one aspect ratio(such as 16:9) and displayed on video display devices having differentaspect ratios (such as 4:3). Providing multiple display regions for eachtype of video display device allows a user to choose how the image isdisplayed based on the user's viewing preferences. Further, the multipledisplay regions allow a user to focus the display on a particularcharacter or feature of the video content.

FIG. 4 illustrates an original video image 400 having a 16:9 aspectratio and multiple options for displaying the original video image on avideo display having a 4:3 aspect ratio. Note that FIG. 4 is notnecessarily drawn to scale. In this example, the original video imagewas encoded with information identifying four different display regions(also referred to as “views”) of the original video image for display ona video display having a 4:3 aspect ratio. Each of the four displayregions presents a different portion of the original video image on thevideo display. Certain display regions may cause the right and leftedges (and/or the top and bottom edges) of the original video image tobe deleted (or “cropped”). Other display regions may include blank barsalong the top and bottom edges of the display region.

The original video image 400 is identified by a solid line. A firstdisplay region 402 aligns the top and bottom edges of the video displaywith the top and bottom edges of the original video image 400. Displayregion 402 has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which matches the video display. Inthis situation, the entire 4:3 video display is filled, but the rightand left edges of the original video image 400 are deleted (i.e., theportions between broken lines 402 and the sides of the original videoimage 400). As shown in FIG. 4, display region 402 is not necessarilycentered between the left and right edges of the original video image400. Further, the location of display region 402 may move from one frameto the next to follow the action of the video content or to focus on theportion of the video content that is most important to the producer ofthe video content.

A second display region 406 aligns the right and left edges of the videodisplay with the right and left edges of the original video image 400.Display region 406 has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which matches the videodisplay. In this situation, the 4:3 video display is filled to the leftand right edges, but blank bands are located along the top and bottomedges of the video display. The blank bands extend from the top of theoriginal video image 400 to the top of display region 406, and from thebottom of the original video image 400 to the bottom of display region408.

A third display region 404 represents a compromise between displayregions 402 and 406. Display region 404 also has a 4:3 aspect ratio,which matches the video display. In this situation, a portion of theoriginal video image 400 is deleted along the left and right edges(i.e., the portion between broken line 404 and the right and left edgesof the original video image). The portion of the original video image400 that is deleted is approximately one-half the amount that is deletedby display region 402. Additionally, black bands are located along thetop and bottom edges of the video display. The black bands extend fromthe top of the original video image 400 to the top of display region404. The black bands created by third display region 404 areapproximately one-half the size of the black bands created by displayregion 406.

A fourth display region 408 focuses on a particular character or objectin the original video image 400 (e.g., the viewer's favorite actor oractress). Display region 408 typically moves around the original videoimage 400 to follow the particular character or object. In anotherimplementation, display region 408 may be enlarged to fill all (or amajority) of the screen of the display device (e.g., zoom in on theparticular character or object). Alternative embodiments may include anynumber of different display regions associated with a particular videodisplay type (e.g., a 4:3 aspect ratio television).

If the actor or object being highlighted by the display region is notpresent in a particular scene, then there may be no region identifieridentified with that actor or object for that scene. In this situation,the system may switch to a different display region that shows othercharacters and objects in the scene. When the preferred actor or objectreturns to the scene, the system can switch back to the display regionthat highlights that actor or object.

Thus, the user of the video display can select among the four differentdisplay regions, depending on their viewing preferences. The firstdisplay region 402 fills the 4:3 video display, but deletes the greatestportion of the original video image 400. The second display region 406contains all of the original video image 400, but has the largest blankbars along the top and bottom edges of the 4:3 video display. The thirddisplay region 404 reduces the size of the blank bars along the top andbottom edges of the 4:3 video display, but also deletes a portion of theoriginal video image 400. The fourth display region 408 focuses on aparticular character or object and deletes most of the remainingportions of the image. This allows the user to select the appropriatedisplay region based on their viewing preference. Further, a user maywatch the same video content at different times selecting differentdisplay regions.

FIG. 4 represents a particular example in which an original video imagewith a 16:9 aspect ratio has four different display regions for a videodisplay having a 4:3 aspect ratio. However, a particular original videoimage may include any number of display regions for any number ofdifferent video display types (such as 4:3 aspect ratio, 2.3:1 aspectratio, high resolution 16:9 aspect ratio, and low resolution 16:9 aspectratio). For example, the 4:3 aspect ratio display type may have fourdifferent display regions and the high resolution 16:9 aspect ratiodisplay type may have only two display regions.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure 500 for encoding videocontent with information regarding multiple display regions, such as thethree regions illustrated in FIG. 4. Video content is also referred toas “video data.” Initially, the procedure 500 identifies video contentto be encoded (block 502). Next, the procedure identifies a first videodisplay type to be supported by the encoded video content (block 504).The procedure then identifies multiple display regions associated withthe current video display type and assigns a display region identifierto each display region (block 506).

The location of each display region can be defined by using fourparameters: 1) the offset from the top of the image rectangle to the topof the display region, 2) the offset from the left side of the imagerectangle to the left side of the display region, 3) the offset from theright side of the image rectangle to the right side of the displayregion, and 4) the offset from the bottom of the image rectangle to thebottom of the display region. Alternatively, two parameters couldidentify the four corners of the display region (e.g., the (x,y)location of the upper left corner of the display region and the (x,y)location of the lower right corner of the display region. These numbersmay be integer numbers based on the row and column (i.e., line) addressof a digital sample, or could have greater precision, such as 1/16thpixel accuracy.

Each display region identifier is included with the definition of thedisplay region. At block 508, the procedure determines whetheradditional video display types are to be supported. If so, the procedureidentifies the next video display type (block 510) and returns to block508 to identify display regions associated with the next video displaytype.

If no additional video types are supported at block 508, the procedurebranches to block 512, which encodes the video content including alldisplay types and all display regions associated with each display type.Finally, the encoded video content is communicated to a destination(block 514). A destination may be, for example, a transmitter thattransmits the encoded video content to one or more receivers, or arecording device that records the encoded video content for futuretransmission or playback.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure 600 for decoding videocontent that includes multiple display regions. The procedure receivesencoded video content that includes multiple display regions (block602). Each of the multiple display regions has an associated displayregion identifier. The procedure 600 identifies a particular displayregion to display on a video display device (block 604). For example, auser of the video display device may select the particular displayregion based on the user's viewing preferences. The procedure thendecodes the encoded video content (block 606). Finally, the identifieddisplay region is displayed on the video display device (block 608). Theidentified display region is defined by data included in or transmittedwith the video content and may change locations from one frame to thenext (e.g., as a character moves).

FIG. 7 illustrates an original video image 700 having a display regionand an active region. In this example, the original video image 700 issurrounded by a solid line. The display region aligns with the originalvideo image along the top and bottom edges. The left and right edges ofthe display region are identified by broken lines 702. Thus, the displayregion shown in FIG. 7 deletes the original video image 700 locatedbetween each broken line 702 and the left or right edge of the originalvideo image. The resulting portion of the original video image 700 thatis associated with the display region is bounded on the sides by brokenline 702 and bounded on the top and bottom by the original video image.

The active region, defined by broken lines 704, defines the portion ofthe image that has meaningful information. For example, an active regionmay exclude portions of an image that contain artifacts or other datathat should be discarded. Certain image capture devices may introducedistortion or other undesirable data along the edges of the image. Byspecifying an active region that does not include the edges of theimage, such distortion and other undesirable data is not displayed tothe user of a video display device. The active region may be locatedanywhere within the original video image.

As shown in FIG. 7, the active region is bounded on the top and bottomby broken lines 704, and bounded on the left and right sides by theoriginal video image 700. The portion of the original video image 700that is not part of the active region is not displayed on a videodisplay device. In this example, the top and bottom edges of theoriginal video image 700 are deleted by the active region boundaries.

The intersection of the active region and the display region is used todetermine the actual image displayed on the display device. In theexample of FIG. 7, the actual image displayed is bounded by broken lines702 on the right and left sides, and bounded by broken lines 704 on thetop and bottom. Thus, the active region excludes certain portions of theimage regardless of the boundaries of the display region. In effect, theactive region identifies the size of the output of the decoding processby identifying the portion of the image that has meaningful information.

The example active region illustrated in FIG. 7 eliminates data alongthe top and bottom edges of the original video image. In alternateembodiments, the active region may delete data from any edges of theoriginal video image, such as all four edges, the two side edges, thetop and left side edge, etc. Alternatively, the active region may deletedata from any portion (or portions) of the original video image.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure 800 for displayingencoded video content having both a display region and an active region.Initially, procedure 800 receives encoded video content (block 802). Theprocedure identifies a display region to display on a video displaydevice (block 804). The display region may be selected, for example, bya user of a video display device. The procedure then identifies anactive region associated with the encoded video content (block 806).Next, the procedure determines the intersection of the display regionand the active region (block 808). This intersection of the displayregion and the active region is displayed on the video display device(block 810). If a different display region is selected, the proceduredetermines the intersection of the new display region and the activeregion, which is then displayed on the video display device.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a suitable computing environment 900within which the video encoding and decoding procedures may beimplemented (either fully or partially). The computing environment 900may be utilized in the computer and network architectures describedherein.

The exemplary computing environment 900 is only one example of acomputing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation asto the scope of use or functionality of the computer and networkarchitectures. Neither should the computing environment 900 beinterpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any oneor combination of components illustrated in the exemplary computingenvironment 900.

The video encoding and decoding systems and methods described herein maybe implemented with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use include, but are not limited to, personal computers,server computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computingenvironments that include any of the above systems or devices, and soon. Compact or subset versions may also be implemented in clients oflimited resources.

The computing environment 900 includes a general-purpose computingdevice in the form of a computer 902. The components of computer 902 caninclude, by are not limited to, one or more processors or processingunits 904, a system memory 906, and a system bus 908 that couplesvarious system components including the processor 904 to the systemmemory 906.

The system bus 908 represents one or more of several possible types ofbus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, aperipheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or localbus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, sucharchitectures can include an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, aMicro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, an Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, aVideo Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and aPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus also known as a Mezzaninebus.

Computer 902 typically includes a variety of computer readable media.Such media can be any available media that is accessible by computer 902and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable andnon-removable media.

The system memory 906 includes computer readable media in the form ofvolatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 910, and/ornon-volatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) 912. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 914, containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within computer 902, such asduring start-up, is stored in ROM 912. RAM 910 typically contains dataand/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/orpresently operated on by the processing unit 904.

Computer 902 may also include other removable/non-removable,volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. By way of example, FIG. 9illustrates a hard disk drive 916 for reading from and writing to anon-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown), a magnetic diskdrive 918 for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatilemagnetic disk 920 (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive 922for reading from and/or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk 924 such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or other optical media. The harddisk drive 916, magnetic disk drive 918, and optical disk drive 922 areeach connected to the system bus 908 by one or more data mediainterfaces 926. Alternatively, the hard disk drive 916, magnetic diskdrive 918, and optical disk drive 922 can be connected to the system bus908 by one or more interfaces (not shown).

The disk drives and their associated computer-readable media providenon-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, and other data for computer 902. Although the exampleillustrates a hard disk 916, a removable magnetic disk 920, and aremovable optical disk 924, it is to be appreciated that other types ofcomputer readable media which can store data that is accessible by acomputer, such as magnetic cassettes or other magnetic storage devices,flash memory cards, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical storage, random access memories (RAM), read only memories (ROM),electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and thelike, can also be utilized to implement the exemplary computing systemand environment.

Any number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk 916,magnetic disk 920, optical disk 924, ROM 912, and/or RAM 910, includingby way of example, an operating system 926, one or more applicationprograms 928, other program modules 930, and program data 932. Each ofthe operating system 926, one or more application programs 928, otherprogram modules 930, and program data 932 (or some combination thereof)may include elements of the video encoding and/or decoding algorithmsand systems.

A user can enter commands and information into computer 902 via inputdevices such as a keyboard 934 and a pointing device 936 (e.g., a“mouse”). Other input devices 938 (not shown specifically) may include amicrophone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, serial port, scanner,and/or the like. These and other input devices are connected to theprocessing unit 904 via input/output interfaces 940 that are coupled tothe system bus 908, but may be connected by other interface and busstructures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serialbus (USB).

A monitor 942 or other type of display device can also be connected tothe system bus 908 via an interface, such as a video adapter 944. Inaddition to the monitor 942, other output peripheral devices can includecomponents such as speakers (not shown) and a printer 946 which can beconnected to computer 902 via the input/output interfaces 940.

Computer 902 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computingdevice 948. By way of example, the remote computing device 948 can be apersonal computer, portable computer, a server, a router, a networkcomputer, a peer device or other common network node, and so on. Theremote computing device 948 is illustrated as a portable computer thatcan include many or all of the elements and features described hereinrelative to computer 902.

Logical connections between computer 902 and the remote computer 948 aredepicted as a local area network (LAN) 950 and a general wide areanetwork (WAN) 952. Such networking environments are commonplace inoffices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

When implemented in a LAN networking environment, the computer 902 isconnected to a local network 950 via a network interface or adapter 954.When implemented in a WAN networking environment, the computer 902typically includes a modem 956 or other means for establishingcommunications over the wide network 952. The modem 956, which can beinternal or external to computer 902, can be connected to the system bus908 via the input/output interfaces 940 or other appropriate mechanisms.It is to be appreciated that the illustrated network connections areexemplary and that other means of establishing communication link(s)between the computers 902 and 948 can be employed.

In a networked environment, such as that illustrated with computingenvironment 900, program modules depicted relative to the computer 902,or portions thereof, may be stored in a remote memory storage device. Byway of example, remote application programs 958 reside on a memorydevice of remote computer 948. For purposes of illustration, applicationprograms and other executable program components such as the operatingsystem are illustrated herein as discrete blocks, although it isrecognized that such programs and components reside at various times indifferent storage components of the computing device 902, and areexecuted by the data processor(s) of the computer.

An implementation of the system and methods described herein may resultin the storage or transmission of data, instructions, or otherinformation across some form of computer readable media. Computerreadable media can be any available media that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable mediamay comprise “computer storage media” and “communications media.”“Computer storage media” include volatile and non-volatile, removableand non-removable media implemented in any method or technology forstorage of information such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage mediaincludes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which canbe used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by acomputer.

“Communication media” typically embodies computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communicationmedia also includes any information delivery media. The term “modulateddata signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristicsset or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includeswired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, andwireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer readable media.

Alternatively, portions of the systems and methods described herein maybe implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware, software,and/or firmware. For example, one or more application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs) or programmable logic devices (PLDs) couldbe designed or programmed to implement one or more portions of the videoencoding or video decoding systems and procedures.

Although the description above uses language that is specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the invention defined in the appended claims is not limited to thespecific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features andacts are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the invention.

1. A method comprising: identifying video content to be encoded;identifying a first display region associated with a first video displaytype; identifying second display region associated with the first videodisplay type, wherein the first and second display regions areassociated with different portions of an image associated with the videocontent; and encoding the video content such that the encoded videocontent includes information regarding the first display region and thesecond display region.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising: identifying a third display region associated with a secondvideo display type; and identifying a fourth display region associatedwith the second video display type, wherein the encoded video contentincludes information regarding the first display region, the seconddisplay region, the third display region, and the fourth display region.3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising identifying anactive region of the video content, wherein encoding the video contentincludes indicating the active region of the image associated with thevideo content.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each displayregion has an associated display region identifier.
 5. A method asrecited in claim 1 further comprising communicating the encoded videocontent to a plurality of receivers.
 6. One or more computer-readablememories containing a computer program that is executable by a processorto perform the method recited in claim
 1. 7. A method comprising:receiving encoded video data, wherein the encoded video data identifiesa plurality of display regions associated with a particular displaytype; identifying a display region to display on a video display device;and decoding the encoded video content.
 8. A method as recited in claim7 further comprising displaying the decoded video content on the videodisplay device.
 9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein displaying thedecoded video content includes displaying the portion of the videocontent associated with the identified display region.
 10. A method asrecited in claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of display regions hasan associated display region identifier.
 11. One or morecomputer-readable memories containing a computer program that isexecutable by a processor to perform the method recited in claim
 7. 12.An apparatus comprising: an encoded video content source; and a decodercoupled to receive encoded video content from the encoded video contentsource, wherein the encoded video content identifies a plurality ofdisplay regions associated with a particular type of video displaydevice, the decoder to identify a display region to display on a videodisplay device, and the decoder to decode the received encoded videocontent.
 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the decoderfurther displays the decoded video content on the video display device.14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the decoder furtheridentifies an active region of the decoded video content.
 15. Anapparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the decoder further displaysthe portion of the decoded video content defined by the intersection ofthe identified display region and the active region.